It will be a day of firsts as Kibaki hands over State House keys

Officers of the kenya defence force rehearse for the swearing in ceremony of the president elect Uhuru Kenyatta on April 2, 2013 at the Moi International sports centre Kasarani. The ceremony is scheduled to take place next week Tuesday.   

 NATION MEDIA GROUP

By EDITH FORTUNATE efortunate@ke.nationmedia

In Summary

• Swearing in will mark a departure from the last two hurriedly organised ceremonies witnessed in 2002 and in the chaotic aftermath of the 2007 General Election

President Kibaki will hand over to President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta in a four-hour ceremony which has been billed as one of the most elaborately planned events in the nation’s history.

All 52 African presidents have been invited to the swearing in ceremony whose budget has been placed in the region of Sh300 million.

President-elect Kenyatta and Deputy President-elect William Ruto will take the oath of office around 12.20pm after a ceremony marked by full military honours, including the handing over of the Commander in Chief’s sword from Mr Kibaki to Mr Kenyatta.

Major nations are expected to be represented by their envoys, while up to a dozen African presidents will attend.

It will mark a departure from the last two swearing in ceremonies, the euphoric one of 2002 when wheelchair-bound Kibaki took over from Moi, and the 2007 one after Kibaki’s victory, which was disputed by Raila Odinga’s ODM party.

Among local guests invited to the event are former President Daniel arap Moi, outgoing Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka.

Strict timelines have been line up for the swearing-in which will be overseen by Chief Justice Willy Mutunga and the oath administered by Chief Registrar of the High Court, Mrs Gladys Boss Shollei.

The programme, prepared by the Transition Committee chaired by Head of Public Service Francis Kimemia, indicates entertainment will begin at 8am. Sauti Sol, Ringtone, Jaguar, Daddy Owen, Rufftone, Jemimah Thiong’o and Sarakasi dancers are among the artistes expected to perform.

Military service commanders will arrive at 10.30am. Fifteen minutes later heads of state and government officials will start to troop in.

General Julius Karangi, Chief of the Defence Forces, is expected to arrive at 11am. Time keeping was one of the features rehearsed on Wednesday when the Kenya Defence Forces performed a full dress rehearsal ahead of the event.

Dr Mutunga, regarded as the host of the event, will arrive 15 minutes after General Karangi. He will be accompanied by Mrs Shollei and Supreme Court judges.

At 11.30am, Kibaki’s last guard of honour will march to take position in the middle of the 60,000-seater Kasarani stadium pitch. The parade commander will be Lt Col Jeff Nyaga, best known for his heroic exploits in commanding the forces that ejected Al Shabaab militia from Kismayu.

The event will be broadcast live across the country on screens installed in halls and other public places.

The arrival of Mr Kenyatta, Mr Ruto and President Kibaki will be separated by a five-minute interval. Mr Ruto is scheduled to arrive at 11.35am followed by Mr Kenyatta. They will seat next to each another at the dais.

After Mr Kenyatta’s arrival, Mr Kibaki’s presidential motorcade will leave State House for Kasarani.

He will be received by General Karangi and Mr Kimemia and escorted to the ceremonial Land Rover and then take his position on the VIP dais. The first stanza of the national anthem will be played by the military band.

The inspection of the guard of honour will be followed by interdenominational prayers

The main ceremony will begin immediately after the prayers and will be conducted by Mrs Shollei. The registrar will make introductory remarks and then call on the Chief Justice to take his position. Dr Mutunga will introduce Mr Kenyatta and Mr Ruto to the nation.

Mr Kenyatta will take his oath at exactly 12.20pm and will solemnly affirm allegiance with his hand on the Bible which will be held by his wife, Margaret.

He will then sign the certificate of inauguration watched by Dr Mutunga.

Mr Kenyatta explained on his Facebook page in the week why he and Margaret will handle the Bible. He posted: “I have asked my friend and wife Margaret to hold the Bible together with me as I take the oath of office on Tuesday, a tradition exercised in most countries of the world. I promised to uphold family values and by having her stand alongside me, we will not only be vowing individually as recognised by the Constitution but also collectively as recognised by our marriage vows also enshrined in the law.

“By holding the Bible, not for me but with me, as I take my oath of office, she will be committing herself to ensure she reminds me of my promise to the Kenyan people and also assuring Kenyans that family obligations will not interfere with my execution of duties as President.”

After the oath, Mr Kibaki will decorate President Kenyatta with the highest State award for distinguished leadership, Chief of Golden Hearts. Mr Kibaki will also hand over the instruments of power — the ceremonial sword and the Constitution.

The sword is the same one passed on from the late President Jomo Kenyatta to Mr Moi and then to Mr Kibaki.

Those present will then rise to sing the three stanzas of the national anthem as the presidential standards (flags) are changed.

President Kenyatta’s light blue standard will be hoisted while Mr Kibaki’s white standard will be lowered.
There will be a 21-gun salute outside the stadium to symbolise change of power.

At this point President Kenyatta will swap seats with his predecessor.

General Karangi will receive Mr Kibaki’s standard and hand it over to him. Immediately after, Mr Ruto will be called to take his position next to Dr Mutunga.

The same ritual will be bestowed on Mr Ruto; his oath enshrined in Article 148 of the Constitution unlike the president’s which is in Article 141. At this point, there will be a brief musical interlude after which the deputy president will invite Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni to speak on behalf of all invited guests.

Deputy President Ruto will invite Mr Kibaki to make his farewell address and then welcome President Kenyatta to make his inaugural speech. Mr Kibaki will leave the stadium for State House.

President Kenyatta will drive to State House in his ceremonial car where he will be hosted for lunch by his predecessor. He will be joined by the deputy president and other guests.

After lunch, Kibaki will leave State House for the last time as its tenant.

In the evening, there will be an inaugural dinner ball. Security has been tightened ahead of the ceremony
“We will have officers from the General Service Unit, regular police, administration police and civilian police, the place will be tightly secured for this occasion,” said Inspector General of Police David Kimaiyo.

Mr Kenyatta will take office approximately 50 years to the day his father ascended to power at independence.

His portrait would replace Mr Kibaki’s in public offices. Hawkers have been selling the portrait throughout last week.

Mr Kimemia confirmed that the government will distribute portraits of Mr Kenyatta country wide.